Foodbank NSW & ACT CEO, John Robertson says, "This is incredibly concerning, because while demand continues to rise week on week, the support we get from the ACT Government is set to end in a matter of days."
For the last decade, local pantries supplied by Foodbank in ACT are accessing a freight subsidy under the ACT Government Food Assistance program. This subsidy ends in June. Funding for the program is provided to support local pantries across the ACT to access food relief supplies from Foodbank NSW & ACT. Due to the recent increase in fuel costs and cost per pallet, the funding allocation for the program has been exhausted well in advance of June 2023.
For the majority of our community partner charities, accessing groceries and produce through Foodbank NSW & ACT is the most efficient way for them to access supplies, particularly pantry staples in the ACT. But we won't be able to get food to them if we don't have the funding. Most local pantries are entirely dependent on the Food Assistance program and would not be able to absorb part or full costs of freight,
says Mr Robertson.
